You have most likely heard the song “Old Town Road” (or the remix) at least once this past year. That’s because this country-trap beat by Lil Nas X shattered records by becoming the first song to top the Billboard Charts for 17 consecutive weeks. The song’s catchy beat and family friendly lyrics made it loved by people of all ages around the world. The song even sparked a dance challenge and many memes on social media. Ironically enough, Lil Nas X was a college dropout living on his sister’s couch less than a year ago. How did this 20 year old become an overnight viral sensation?
Lil Nas X’s Humble Beginnings
Originally from Atlanta, Lil Nas X (whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill) spent most of his time studying memes and social media during high school. He created several accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok with the hopes of becoming a paid Influencer. When those plans didn’t pan out, Lil Nas X went on to college, only to drop out a year later to pursue music. His parents did not support his decision at first, but his rampant success proved them otherwise.
Got The Horses In The Back, $30 For A Track
Without money to professionally produce his own music, Lil Nas X turned to the app BeatStars to find some beats. He purchased the music that is the background of Old Town Road for only $30 from a Dutch teen producer named YoungKio. He then recorded his own lyrics about bringing his horses to “Old Town Road” to go with the track. In order to get some exposure for the song, the two paired up by creating various memes to share on social media, really emphasizing the “cowboy” perspective. The song truly peaked in popularity when it was shared on TikTok by Lil Nas X, inspiring the creation of “yee yee juice” and the “yeehaw challenge.”
Only The Beginning…
After the original song grew in popularity, the artist turned to Twitter to try to gain the support of Billy Ray Cyrus. After he caught the famous country singer’s attention, the two paired up to create the remix, which helped the song gain even more popularity. The duo even performed at the BET awards together. The song has since won numerous awards, including song of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards. Given his recent stardom, Lil Nas X has finally been able to jumpstart his career, with a record deal with Columbia records. We are sure to hear more hits from this young artist- can’t nobody tell him nothing!
CANT NOBODY TELL ME NOTHINNNNNNNNNN ?
— nope (@LilNasX) July 29, 2019
Photos: Instagram @lilnasx